2018 Bestmed Jock Tour 14-16 September

The Bestmed Jock Tour and Classique events take place over separate weekends in 2018. The one day, 3-stage Bestmed Jock Classique will take place on 14 July 2018 and the 3 day, 3-stage Jock Tour will take place over the weekend of 14 to 16 September 2018. The Bestmed Jock Tour Presented by Rudy Project is not a challenge for the average rider. It constitutes the first event in South Africa which is mirrored on the Classic European Alpine road race stage races, such as the Haute Route. There is no tougher 3-day challenge on a road bike anywhere else on the African continent. 

The 2018 Jock Tour presented by Rudy Project, covers a distance of 330km and a daunting 7200 metres of vertical ascent. The existing one-day Jock, which is an official premier seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, keeps its name as the Bestmed Jock Classique while its three-day big brother is known as the Bestmed Jock Tour.

Dates: 14 – 16 September 2018
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Distances: 3 Days – 304km (7200 metres of vertical ascent)
Entrance Fee: R 4 100
Enquiries: eventsupport@asgworld.co.za | www.thejock.co.za

Day 1: Friday 14 September
Start: 13h00 Individual Time Trial, Nelspruit to Kaapsehoop.
Distance: 26.93km
Total ascent: 1200m
The first stage is a 26.93km hill climb time trial from Nelspruit to Kaapsehoop. Although only 26.93km in length, the course rises by 1200 metres between Nelspruit and Kaapmuiden.

Day 2: Saturday 15 September
Start: 07h30 Nelspruit to White River via the Kruger Airport Road/Sabie and back to Nelspruit;
Distance: 140km
Total ascent: 2900m
The second stage is the existing 140km Jock Classic route, which Jock Tour riders will have to complete in one go, without the luxury of the breakfast and lunch stops which the Classic riders have at White River and Sabie respectively. This stage takes riders from Nelspruit out on the N4 towards Komatipoort, before turning left towards the Kruger National Airport onto White River. From White River riders take on the road to Sabie and then back onto Nelspruit. This stage offers 2900 metres of climbing. The notable climbs on this stage are Spitskop and the Long Tom Pass.

Day 3: Sunday 16 September
Start: 06h30 Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden via Boulders/Barberton and back to Nelspruit
Distance: 138km
Total ascent: 3100m
Stage 3 takes place over 136km on the traditional Jock Classique route, starting in Nelspruit, going out on the N4 towards Komatipoort before turning right into the Boulders reserve for the back-breaking Boulders ascent and onto Kaapmuiden. From Kaapmuiden the Tour takes on the undulating road to Barberton and then onto Nelspruit, with Hilltop constituting the final climb of the Tour before riders drop down into Nelspruit to finish back at the Mbombela Stadium.

If you’re still in search of accommodation close to the event, don’t hesitate to check out our rooms here or email us at reservations@casterbridgehollow.co.za for a direct quote. We look forward to welcoming all competitors to the Lowveld for the September Bestmed Jock Tour 2018.